Medical Marijuana for Rheumatoid Arthritis

Arthritis is a common medical condition among senior citizens, characterized by joint inflammation, pain, swelling, and stiffness. Though it primarily affects joints, certain variants of the condition quickly spread to other parts of the body.

According to the Arthritis Foundation, arthritis affects millions of Americans. The most common types of arthritis are osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Medical marijuana has become an increasingly popular treatment for the painful symptoms caused by arthritis. But how well does medical marijuana work for rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis? And what kind of relief can it provide?

Understanding Rheumatoid Arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis affects over four million adults in the U.S. alone. It usually causes pain in joints that are similar to each other. For example, pain and swelling may start in one knee at the beginning of the week and progress to the other or both knees by the end of the week.

RA can also cause tingling in the hands and feet, numbness, and inflamed rheumatoid nodules. These combined symptoms can cause significant mobility issues, making it challenging to operate handheld devices or perform certain tasks.

Using medical marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis can help alleviate the severity of one RA symptom known as Sjogren’s syndrome. This disorder affects moisture production, such as tears and saliva, causing dry eyes and mouth. Luckily, cannabinoids reduce inflammation and relieve some of these issues.

Understanding Psoriatic Arthritis

Psoriasis is an incurable skin disease that results in scaly, itchy spots. Psoriasis is often a gateway for PsA, a variant of arthritis characterized by swollen, painful fingers. Psoriatic arthritis may also affect other joints in the long term, including the spine.

Seeking medical help at the first sign of psoriasis can minimize the chances of it developing into PsA.

Medical Marijuana for Rheumatoid & Psoriatic Arthritis

Marijuana can go a long way in managing arthritic pain. Another plus to this treatment is that there are only mild to no side effects, unlike more conventional methods like NSAIDs, which can cause gastrointestinal bleeding. Patients who choose to use medical marijuana for rheumatoid arthritis instead of, or in addition to, other medications often report encouraging results.

How does marijuana provide these benefits? In a nutshell, cannabis reacts with pain receptors throughout the body to produce a calming effect and slow down the brain’s pain processing speed. This is due to the chemical compounds that interact with the endocannabinoid system and control inflammation and pain.

If you’re considering a medical card for rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, or another less common type of arthritis, doctors recommend a lot of precision when deciding between products. Consider choosing products that are easy to ingest while causing minimal intoxication.

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